A MAN has escaped a prison sentence for exposing himself in front of young girls.

But a judge told Damon Jarvis if he does it again, he will be jailed.

A court heard how girls aged between 12 and 16 were left frightened and shocked after they were confronted by 29-year-old Jarvis.

Chelmsford Crown Court was told the incidents took place in Braintree between April last year and October this year.

Jarvis, of Mell Road, Tollesbury, was seen by one 16-year-old in an alley near Cressing Road on October 10, and by a 12-year-old girl near Freeport the following day.

Three days later, two 15-year-old girls walking between the Marks Farm Tesco store and Bartram Avenue turned around when they heard someone wolf whistle.

They saw Jarvis exposing himself and holding a pornographic magazine, Mark Lakin, prosecuting, told the court.

Jarvis admitted three charges of indecent exposure and asked for nine similar matters to be considered when he appeared in court for sentence.

He was given a three-year supervision order with a condition he attends a sex offenders’ programme and put on the sex offenders’ register for five years.

Judge Christopher Ball QC told Jarvis he was not being jailed as he had spent the equivalent of a four-month sentence on remand.

Judge Ball told Jarvis: “When you are doing this, you are distressing, upsetting and frightening young girls. They will be reluctant to walk down alleyways or go to the shops for fear that they may meet some pervert.”

The judge also told Jarvis he could be facing a prison sentence if he offends in the same way again.